About
I give lessons and audition coaching on Trumpet, Cornet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone & Tuba. I also teach Music Theory, Rhythm and Ear Training, as part of a brass lesson curriculum.
I have over 30 years experience playing and teaching all the brass instruments. I hold degrees in music education and performance from San Francisco State University, and have taught on the faculties of San Francisco Community Music Center and Walnut Creek Civic Arts. I've most recently taught brass lessons at Skyline College and music classes in the Hillsborough school district.
I teach students of all ages. I tailor my teaching to the individual needs of both students and parents, and I like to make our lessons fun and productive. I cover all the basics of playing, from correct breathing to correct style, and I impart a deep knowledge and appreciation of music to my students as well. I offer both private lessons and group coaching, at my studio and on a house call basis. I offer flexible scheduling, with sessions varying in length from 30 to 60 minutes.
As Performer, Arranger & Bandleader, I head three of the Bay Area's finest musical groups: The Brassworks, Gabriel's Trumpets, and The Memorial Brass. I serve as co-principal trumpet and program annotator for Symphony Parnassus. I have performed with San Francisco Opera, Childrens Opera and Pocket Opera, Oakland Ballet, and Marin, Berkeley, Monterey, Diablo, Vallejo and Napa Symphonies. For many years I played lead trumpet in Royal Society Jazz Orchestra and San Francisco Starlight Orchestra. I’m a member of Golden Gate Park Band, and I’m jazz cornetist and arranger for San Francisco’s long-running immersive theatrical experience The Speakeasy (www.TheSpeakeasySF.com). I also play traditional jazz with the Silicon Gulch Jazz Band, and classic Rock&Roll with the E-Ticket Band. My website is www.BrassworksMusic.us.
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Maki M.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I recommend that a new student's first lesson be longer (45 or 60 minutes), to allow me the time to show the student how to care for their instrument as well as how to play it. This also allows me the time to give the instrument a thorough checkup, perform any needed maintenance, and recommend any needed repairs.
I cover all the basics of playing, from proper breathing to correct style and improvisation. My students learn the language of music, along with some music history and theory, and we play duets.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated with honors from Lowell High School and San Francisco State University, where I earned degrees in music education and performance.
I've taught on the faculties of S.F. Community Music Center and Walnut Creek Civic Arts, and I currently teach brass at Skyline College and in Hillsborough Schools.
I teach all ages, and I tailor my teaching to each individual student. With over 30 years of experience teaching all the brass instruments, I know how to make our lessons educational, productive and fun.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My private lesson rates are:
$50 for 30 minutes / $75 for 45 minutes / $100 for 60 minutes at my home tudio in Belmont.
House Calls cost $10 to $40 additional per lesson, depending on distance and travel time.
I recommend weekly lessons. I offer Scholarship and Low Income rates on request.
How did you get started teaching?
Younger players have come to me asking if I could teach them how to do what I do. So, I obliged, and started learning how to teach by doing it. My colleagues and I often share teaching tips and experiences. I also learn things from my students - so I'm always learning and finding ways to improve my music making.
What types of students have you worked with?
Students of all types, from high-achievers to special needs students, ranging in age from 6 years old to senior adults.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Take a trial lesson with a new teacher you are considering, to see if it's enjoyable for you.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
The student should be able to tell me why he/she wants to play the instrument, and hopefully what he/she wants to do with it, and what kind of music they want to play.